Government expenditure on education, total in North America
North America: Government expenditure on education, total was 10.7% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Government expenditure on education, total in North America, 1981–2022
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
In 2022, government expenditure on education, total in North America stood at 10.7%.
That represents a change of up 4.6% on the previous year and down 12.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in North America peaked at 15.6% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 10.2%, in 2021.
North America ranks 45th of 46 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education, total in North America, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 15.6% | — |
| 1982 | 15.5% | -0.3% |
| 1983 | 14.8% | -4.9% |
| 1984 | 14.1% | -4.6% |
| 1985 | 13.2% | -6.1% |
| 1986 | 12.7% | -4.2% |
| 1987 | 13.5% | +6.1% |
| 1988 | 13.5% | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 13.6% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 13.2% | -2.8% |
| 1991 | 14.3% | +8.1% |
| 1992 | 13.1% | -8.0% |
| 1993 | 14.6% | +11.5% |
| 1994 | 12.9% | -11.6% |
| 1995 | 12.9% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 12.6% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 12.7% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 13.0% | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 12.2% | -5.9% |
| 2002 | 12.1% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 12.2% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 12.3% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 12.0% | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 12.5% | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 12.3% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 12.2% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 11.2% | -8.2% |
| 2014 | 12.1% | +8.1% |
| 2015 | 12.9% | +6.8% |
| 2016 | 12.6% | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 13.0% | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 12.6% | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 12.5% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 12.1% | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 10.2% | -15.9% |
| 2022 | 10.7% | +4.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 14.1% | 12.7% | 15.6% | 9 |
| 1990s | 13.3% | 12.6% | 14.6% | 8 |
| 2000s | 12.3% | 12.0% | 13.0% | 7 |
| 2010s | 12.4% | 11.2% | 13.0% | 9 |
| 2020s | 11.0% | 10.2% | 12.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near North America
More education data for North America
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 26.20 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.2703 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0687 units per person (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 64.5% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 2.04 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 16.9% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 28.14 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in North America?
- Government expenditure on education, total in North America was 10.7% in 2022, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 15.6% in 1981.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.2% in 2021.
- How does North America rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- North America ranks 45th out of 46 groups with data for 2022.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North America data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Government expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on all sectors (including health, education, social services, etc.). It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.